The VEGF- and PDGF-family of angiogenic markers have prognostic impact in soft tissue sarcomas arising in the extremities and trunk.

Background: Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal lineage that can arise in any part of the body. Prognosis, and hence also treatment may vary according to histologic subtype and localization. Angiogenesis is the process of forming new blood vessels from pre-existing ones.

Prognostic impact of Skp2, ER and PGR in male and female patients with soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) is a member of mammalian F-box proteins. The purpose of this study is to clarify the prognostic significance of expression of Skp2 related to gender, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PGR) in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Skp2 has been demonstrated to display an oncogenic function since its overexpression has been observed in many human cancers.

Prognostic impact of Jab1, p16, p21, p62, Ki67 and Skp2 in soft tissue sarcomas.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to clarify the prognostic significance of expression of Jab1, p16, p21, p62, Ki67 and Skp2 in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Optimised treatment of STS requires better identification of high risk patients who will benefit from adjuvant therapy. The prognostic significance of Jab1, p16, p21, p62, Ki67 and Skp2 in STS has not been sufficiently investigated.

High expression of CD20+ lymphocytes in soft tissue sarcomas is a positive prognostic indicator.

The immune status is important in cancer patients. Tissue microarrays from 249 patients with soft tissue sarcomas were constructed. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD20+ and CD45+ lymphocytes in tumors.

Prognostic impact of CD57, CD68, M-CSF, CSF-1R, Ki67 and TGF-beta in soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: Prognostic markers in curable STS may have the potential to guide therapy after surgical resection. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic impact of the presence of cells and growth factors belonging to the innate immune system in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). The significance of macrophages (CD68), their growth factor macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), its receptor colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R), natural killer cells (CD57) and the general immunomodulating molecule (TGF-beta) are all controversial in STS.

Prognostic impacts of hypoxic markers in soft tissue sarcoma.

Background. We aimed to explore the prognostic impact of the hypoxia-induced factors (HIFαs) 1 and 2, the metabolic HIF-regulated glucose transporter GLUT-1, and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) in non-gastrointestinal stromal tumor soft tissue sarcomas (non-GIST STS). Methods.

Prognostic impact of peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration in soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration in the capsule of soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Multiple observations in preclinical and clinical studies have shown that the immune system has a role in controlling tumor growth and progression. Prognostic markers in potentially curable STS should guide therapy after surgical resection.

The prognostic impact of Akt isoforms, PI3K and PTEN related to female steroid hormone receptors in soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: The PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in cellular survival pathways by inhibiting apoptotic processes and stimulating cell growth and proliferation. Its negative prognostic value has been proven in many types of cancer. In soft tissue sarcomas, the expression profiles of the PI3K/Akt pathway components are poorly defined and their significance uncertain.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 orchestrates angiogenic networking in non-GIST STS patients.

Background: Non-gastrointestinal stromal tumor soft-tissue sarcomas (non-GIST STSs) constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors with poor prognosis. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1), in close interplay with platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), are strongly involved in angiogenesis. This study investigates the prognostic impact of FGF2 and FGFR-1 and explores the impact of their co-expression with PDGF-B and VEGFR-3 in widely resected tumors from non-GIST STS patients.

The prognostic impact of TGF-β1, fascin, NF-κB and PKC-ζ expression in soft tissue sarcomas.

Aims: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), fascin, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p105, protein-kinase C-zeta (PKC-ζ), partioning-defective protein-6 (Par-6), E-cadherin and vimentin are tumor promoting molecules through mechanisms involved in cell dedifferentiation. In soft tissue sarcomas, their expression profile is poorly defined and their significance is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of TGF-β1, NF-κB p105, PKC-ζ, Par-6α, E-cadherin and vimentin in non-gastrointestinal stromal tumor soft tissue sarcomas (non-GIST STSs).

Platelet-Derived Growth Factors in Non-GIST Soft-Tissue Sarcomas Identify a Subgroup of Patients with Wide Resection Margins and Poor Disease-Specific Survival.

Background. Optimal treatment of nongastrointestinal stromal tumor soft-tissue sarcomas (non-GIST STSs) is resection with wide margins. This study investigates the prognostic impact of the angiogenesis-associated platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors (PDGFRs) in non-GIST STS patients with wide and nonwide resection margins.

Prognostic impact of lymphocytes in soft tissue sarcomas.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of lymphocyte infiltration in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Prognostic markers in potentially curable STS should guide therapy after surgical resection. The immune status at the time of resection may be important, but the prognostic significance of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes is controversial as the immune system has conflicting roles during cancer development.

Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor are prognostic factors in soft tissue sarcomas.

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) regulate growth and cell differentiation upon ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activation. In breast cancer and gynecological tumors their expression are known predictors of endocrine therapy benefits and a favourable therapy-independent prognosis. In soft tissue sarcomas, their expression profile is poorly defined and their significance is uncertain.

Profiling of VEGFs and VEGFRs as prognostic factors in soft tissue sarcoma: VEGFR-3 is an independent predictor of poor prognosis.

Background: In non-gastrointestinal stromal tumor soft tissue sarcoma (non-GIST STS) optimal treatment is surgery with wide resection margins. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and receptors (VEGFRs) are known to be key players in the initiation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. This study investigates the prognostic impact of VEGFs and VEGFRs in non-GIST STS with wide and non-wide resection margins.